A new study released in the journal Pediatrics showed girls who received the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil were not more inclined to have sex, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Robert Bednarczyk, the new study’s lead author, told the Los Angeles Times one reason parents were concerned the vaccine would encourage promiscuity was because it was aimed at 11 and 12-year-olds, but he said targeting pre-teens is important because the vaccine works best before they become sexually active.

The study looked at 1,398 girls aged 11 and 12, with 493 who received HPV vaccines and 905 who didn’t receive the vaccine and were followed for three years, according to the study.

The results showed that girls who received the vaccine were had the same rates of STI testing and/or diagnosis, contraceptive counseling or pregnancy as girls who didn’t receive the vaccine, according to Medical News Today.

 Bednarczyk told the Los Angeles Times “The takeaway here is that this vaccine is safe and effective, and it's not associated with any risk of … outcomes related to sexual activity.”